Faculty Conference Minutes
Recital Hall
February 16, 2001
I.
Approval of Minutes From the October 20, 2000 Faculty Conference
A motion to conduct business in the absence of a quorum was made, seconded, and approved. A
correction was made to Section V, Academic Council's report in the October 20, 2000 Faculty Conference
Minutes. The wording indicating that Math 101 is a Math 140 prerequisite will be removed. The October
20, 2000 Faculty Conference Minutes were approved as amended.
II.
Welcome and Introductory Remarks - Dr. Will Thacker, Academic Council Chair
Because of his recent appointment as interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Tom
Moore resigned as Faculty Conference Chair. Dr. Thacker, leading the meeting, welcomed the faculty.
III.
Report from the November 3, 2000, Board of Trustees Meetings - Dr. Tom Moore
Dr. Moore reported that the Board approved this year's Future Steps program and made minor changes
to the strategic plan. The state institution bonds for the Sims renovation and athletic facilities bonds were
issued. The Board also authorized the debt to purchase additional computers. The BS in Environmental
Science and the BA in Environmental Studies were approved. The programs are now two steps away from
being ready for fall implementation. The Board approved tuition fee increases for the Executive MBA
program. In-state and out-of-state tuition increased 8.57% and 9.27%, respectively. The final 2000 - 2001
budget is approximately $53 million.
Dr. Moore thanked the faculty for allowing him to serve as the faculty's representative to the Board for
the past four years. Drs. Jo Tarvers and Michele Henderson were thanked for serving as the Conference's
parliamentarian and secretary, respectively.
IV.
Report from the President - Dr. Anthony J. DiGiorgio
Dr. DiGiorgio thanked Dr. Moore for his service as Faculty Conference Chair and then discussed
budget related issues. Although South Carolina's economy is slowing and has problems caused by
annualization, there are not any mid-year budget cuts at this time. Next year's budget is expected to be
reduced by an unknown percentage. The E & G budget (Education and General), covering academic and
administrative activities, includes state appropriations, tuition revenue, and expenses of which over 90%
are salary related. State funding reductions will be through the E & G budget. By law, the E & G budget
may not include any federal funds or the auxiliary and fee for service funds (housing, food service,
bookstore, athletics, student activities, etc.). Excess G & E funds from earlier years ($1.2 million) have
been used in completing the Sims renovation. In addition to expected state funding decreases in the E & G
budget, a $350,000 increase in the University's health insurance costs, Future Steps, and $500,000 for the
three-year technology plan need to be funded.
Plans for covering anticipated G & E state funding cuts include using non-mission critical vacancy
savings, tuition increases, and budget reductions. The House Ways and Means Committee has been asked
to help with the proviso which limits tuition increases to the Higher Education Price Index of about 4%. At
this time, the relief recommendation is in the form of a tuition increase limitation of $125 above the indexbased increase. If the maximum increase were assessed, Winthrop tuition would increase about 8 to 9
percent. Additional net revenues will be generated with expected enrollment increases. Budget constraints
are expected to last one to two years, easing after the state's annualization problems have been resolved.
Due to both houses in the General Assembly having Republican majorities, next year's state funding levels
should be available to the Board earlier than in the past.
Project funding requested for next year's state bond bill includes Peabody renovations, an auditorium
for Thurmond, a down payment for the library renovations or replacement, and $750,000 for new science
equipment. Uncertainty exists over next year's bond bill because some individuals believe that another
bond bill may push South Carolina's debt limit.
The Rock Hill community has been discussing possible sites for a new high school, including Winthrop
Farm. Dr. DiGiorgio indicated that in order for the University to seriously consider selling part of the
Farm, the high school must be in the best long-term interests of Winthrop University in its education role
and no roads may transect the Farm. The Rock Hill School District 3 School Board voted to formally
present the concept to the Board of Trustees at their Charleston retreat the following weekend. Questions
from the faculty included the portion of the farm being considered and sharing athletic facilities. Several of
the plans being circulated in the community require using the land behind the golf course. Sharing athletic
facilities has been suggested but no detailed plans have been presented.
VI.
Committee Reports (early)
SACS Update - Dr. Sarah Stallings
Dr. Stallings provided an update on SACS. The Self-Study Committee and the Administration thanked
all individuals who helped prepare the self-study report. The final copy of the study's first volume is
available on the Web, in each academic dean's office, division leaders' offices, department chairs' offices,
and the Reserve Desk at Dacus Library. The second volume, addressing each principal committee's
concerns and issues, is being revised and completion is expected next week. When completed, copies of
the second volume will be placed with the existing copies of the first volume.
The SACS site visit is March 19 through March 22. The faculty need to be available on campus during
the visit. To facilitate the conveyance of accurate information, staff will be available in Joynes during the
visit. If faculty do not feel that they can answer questions posed by the SACS team, faculty may call the
office to determine to whom the team's questions should be referred. Last week, Dr. Frederick Obear, the
SACS site visit leader, provided positive feedback when he came to campus to review the accommodations,
schedules, and information available to the team. Efforts are being made to find a sufficiently large
location for the exit interview to permit faculty attendance. The exit interview will be audio or video taped
for the faculty who cannot attend because of space constraints or other commitments.
The remainder of the committee reports will be given after Dr. Wilson's report.
V.
Report from the V.P. for Academic Affairs - Dr. Melford Wilson
Dr. Wilson reported that Dr. Obear was impressed with both the amount and quality of information
collected and organized by Dr. Sarah Stallings and Dr. Nick Ross. Both were thanked for doing an
excellent job on the self-study.
Because of previous experiences in times of constrained budgets, the University's location in a growth
area, and the increasing number of students who want to attend Winthrop, Dr. Wilson expects the budget
shortfalls to be short-term. A temporary tuition surcharge will also help alleviate budget shortages. A
revenue cla rification, South Carolina is the only state without an automatic source of revenue. Higher
education does not share in the penny sales tax and is not a proposed recipient of any lottery proceeds. The
lottery proceeds will go to parents and students.
In a parting comment, Dr. Wilson reminded the faculty that student evaluations of the faculty are
required by the state, CHE, and most accrediting agencies. The anonymous evaluations must be given in
every course every semester. The University is audited by the state for compliance with the evaluation
requirements.
VI.
Committee Reports
Rules Committee - Dr. Paula Mitchell, Chair
The Rules Committee presented two items to the Conference. The Library Faculty Assembly approved
several procedural changes to its by-laws. The changes include the number of members and the
composition of the tenure and promotion committee and how amendments are approved. One of the
changes eliminated Faculty Conference approval of any by-law changes. The Rules Committee checked
and approved the changes. The Faculty Conference approved the changes presented by the Rules
Committee.
The second issue addresses the rules associated with suspending programs, an issue the Committee was
asked to investigate last spring by Academic Counsel. The administrative procedures for suspending a
program were not in the Faculty Manual. Academic Counsel's concern was that some individuals
associated with suspended programs were not being notified because no mandatory notification procedure
existed.
Dr. John Bird, as the then the Rules Committee Chair was responsible for the written and diagrammed
representations of a program suspension policy that could be added to the termination section of the Faculty
Manual. The proposal's purpose is to define suspension and was created to be parallel to the existing
program terminations policy. The recommendations, submitted to Academic Counsel are included in the
three pages distributed with the February 16, 2001 Faculty Conference agenda. The recommended policy
and procedures are presented on the first page of the handout. Figure 2 on the second page indicates the
existing program termination procedure as documented in the Faculty Manual. The third page modifies
Figure 2 so that it includes the program suspension procedures. If approved, the policy and procedures will
be added to the 2001-2002 Faculty Manual. The proposal does not require a second.
During the Conference's discussion of the proposal, Dr. Wilson indicated that CHE's program changes
override any University policy and procedures. A faculty member asked what type of situation would exist
that would result in a program faculty requesting a review. Dr. Mitchell indicated that usually a dean
makes review requests, but the option for faculty requests exists. Dr. Bird indicated that according to
Figure 2 on the second page of the attached handouts, the basis for the suspension procedures, a review
might be initiated from anywhere. An example of a faculty initiated review involved a masters program
offered by the Political Science Department when they realized that they could not sustain the program.
An observation was made that it is easier to suspend a program than to revive a terminated program. The
proposal passed.
Faculty Personnel Committee - Dr. Jean Silagyi-Rebovich, Chair
The Committee is offering two candidates for the Interim Chair of the Faculty Conference. The two
candidates are Dr. Marilyn Smith and Dr. Jim Johnson. No nominations were offered from the floor. Both
candidates introduced themselves. Ballots were distributed to the faculty and completed ballots collected.
Dr. Michele Henderson agreed to take the unused ballots to the Library's Reference Desk, where faculty
could cast their ballots until noon on Monday.
General Education Task Force - Professor Marilyn Sarow, Chair
Professor Sarow indicated that Professor Bud Katter is doing an excellent job coordinating the
experimental general education courses. Dr. Janice Chism's committee has completed the science
competencies to be submitted to Academic Council. The international understanding objectives are
presently being developed. The visitors from UNC- Asheville offered numerous comments and
suggestions on general education. This summer, "Human Experience II" will be developed.
Academic Council - Dr. Will Thacker, Chair
At the request of the Honors Committee, Professor Katter was asked to add an honors section to the fall
offerings of GENED 101X. No second of the motion supported by Academic Counsel is required. The
Faculty Conference approved the honors section without any discussion.
Faculty Concerns Committee - Dr. Janice Chism, Chair
Dr. Chism updated the Conference on the Committee's October meeting with President DiGiorgio. The
issues include faculty/advisor access to student records, family leave policy for faculty, graduate
assistantship stipends, interim chair and dean appointment process, and plans for future growth in student
enrollment. Faculty salaries were postponed until the February meeting with Dr. DiGiorgio. Faculty
access to non-major students on SIS has been modified. Mrs. Margaret Williamson created faculty access
to all student records in the faculty member's major. Department chairs have SIS access to all student
records. Consistent with the state not having an annual leave provision for family or medical purposes,
Winthrop does not have a related policy. Sheryl Southworth will investigate further the possibility of
developing a short-term leave policy for faculty. The administration will look into graduate assistantship
stipends. Interim chair and dean appointments now include faculty input. The Committee received an
update for student growth. The Committee still has other issues to be addressed in the future.
There were no other committee reports.
VII.
Old Business
There was not any old business.
VIII.
New Business
Winthrop Farm Use - Dr. Bill Rogers
Dr. Bill Rogers from Biology thanked Dr. DiGiorgio for his update on the Farm's status. A letter to the
Winthrop Community was distributed to the Conference members. The letter, attached to the minutes,
discusses the instructional related uses of the Farm and its importance to the various science programs. Dr.
Rogers asks that faculty have an ongoing voice in the Farm's uses and be involved in developing and
protecting the Farm. A motion was made instructing the incoming Faculty Conference Chair to
communicate the faculty's ongoing interest in the Farm to the Board of Trustees and request faculty
representation in matters affecting the Farm. The motion was seconded. Discussion focused on the
importance of preserving the Farm. The motion was approved.
There was not any additional new business.
IX.
Announcements
Mr. Tim Drueke, Registrar, announced that his office would notify students with final exam conflicts.
Faculty will also be notified of conflicts associated with students in their classes. Faculty is asked to work
with students in resolving exam conflicts. Dr. Jo Tarvers announced that graduate faculty would meet after
the Faculty Conference. Dr. Tom Moore announced that he would be attending the Board of Trustee's
Charleston retreat to help provided historical perspective. Dr. Mark Herring announced that the next week
was the final week for faculty book order, database, and journal subscription requests. Dr. Bill Rogers
announced that he would email a copy of the Biology Department's letter to anyone requesting a copy.
X.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 3:35pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Michele C. Henderson
Faculty Conference Secretary